Signaling system



M 23, 1935. H. E. HERSHEY; 2,008,909

SIGNALING SYSTEM 7 Filed April 11, 1929 2 sheets-sheet 1 Inueninr H5171"E.Her'shsv.j l m Hi1 July 23, 1935. H. E. HERSHEY SIGNALING SYSTEM 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 11, 1929 ImranZur' Harm; E. Hershey i A vw APatented Harry E. Hershey, Oak Park/111., allignor,

meme alignments, to Associated Electric Laboratories, Inc., Chicago,11]., a corporation of Delaware Application April 11, 1e29, Serial No.354,400

p v 12 Claims. (Cl. 177 .311) This invention relates in general tosignaling systems, but, more particularly to a system for I controllingand supervising the distribution of scattered through the taxi-cabenters to not be accurate and she set humber of taxi-cabs t It is anobject of this invention to utilize the ..many taxi-cabs waiting fortaxi-cabs throughout a number of districts of alarge city. I

The principal object of the invention is the provision of efficientsignaling means whereby a plurality of indicating tion are progressivelythe variable control station. 1 I

Where there are a large number of taxicabs in operated or released underor an outlying signaling a private telephone system so that drivers ofthe taxi-cabs cancall the dispatcher and ask for or-- dare or receivethem this the from the dispatcher. type of system it is the usualpractice district dispatcher for upon receiving calls from write on apad of paper the number of cabs waiting for orders. She has, therefore,before her a list which she has always to add to or subtract from'andkeep revising so -that'she will at all times be awareof the number ofcabs available. If she occasionally forgets to keep this up to date asit should be and also if *the drivers of the taxl-cabsfail at times toin form her that they are available, the "list would would not know theexhat are not in use.

existing telephone systembetween cab ,stations and the districtdispatcher, and in addition thereto supplant this with'a signalingsystem-of such a nature that unnecessary work on the part the dispatcherwill be eliminated, and at the same time she would exercise completecontrol over -the taxi-cab drivers and the proper distribution of cabsin answer to calls for cabs by the public. There will bo any number ofdispatchers a particular city and these all in turn would be centralizedat a common chiei dispatchers position so that the chief dispatcher isenabled to tell at a glance orders at any one of the district stationsand thereby be enabled to properly distribute them to other districtswhere they are needed.

A feature 01 the invention resides in, means whereby .a-districtvdispatcher will have visible means whereby she will be aware at alltimes of the number 01 taxi-cabs available at a particular teal-cabstand. She will have under her direct signals at a central loca city, itis the usual practice for them to havev whether there are toosupervision a plurality of these taxi-cab stands.

Another feature of the invention resides in the means whereby a taxi-cabdriver can control the visible display means in front of the districtdispatcher in such a, manner that the dispatcher will at all times knowthe number of cabs available at the cab stand.

An additional feature resides in a plurality of sets of chain countingrelays that may be energized and deenergized in succession to operateindicating signals under control of the taxi-cab drivers sothate'ach setof the relays-are energizedor dcenergized as the drivers call in or arereleased for orders.

Another feature of the invention resides in the means whereby thedistrict dispatcher controls 15 the release of a taxi-cab for use onlyafter a driver has called in over the telephone system.

The invention willbe better understood by referringto the accompanyingtwo sheets of drawings comprising Figs. 1 and 2, in which Fig. 1

is a diagrammatic layout of the signaling system of the invention, thechief dispatcher CD being connected to the district dispatchers DDI,

pm, and DB3, and these district dispatchers in turn being connected toany number of cab stands T-II T-.2, etc. Fig. 2 shows the transmittermechanism fr-i at one cab stand, and the sets of chain counting relaysand the lamps l to I0, inclusive, corresponding to the maximum number ofcabs at thqcab stand where the transtween the cab-stand transmitters andthe indicating lamps the dispatcher will have a regular telephone lineextending from her switchboard to each cab-stand so that she canconverse with the drivers. This telephone connection has not been shownon the drawings. All of the rows of lamps of each district dispatcherare multipled together and then connected to the indicating meter M'Ilocated at the chief dispatchers position CD. This is a totalizing metergiving a direct reading of the number of cabs available at theparticular district dispatchers pofltion, this being the sum of all therows oflamps. 5;

' There is only one lamp at a time illuminated in each row of lamps,-andthis is a direct indication ber of cabs available at the districtdispatchers position. All other district dispatchers, DD-Z and DD3, forexample, are similarly interconnected between their respectivecab-stands and the chief dispatchers position CD. There may be anynumber of other district dispatchers connected to the chief dispatcherand there also may be any number of taxi-cab stands connected to adistrict dispatcher from those shown in the drawings.

In the operation of the system as illustrated in Fig. 2, a taxi-cabdriver, after discharging his passengers,.arrives at a taxi-cab stand towhich he regiflarly reports and inserts a key in one of the key sendersin the transmitter T--I, for example. This action transmits an impulseof current over the line extending to the district dispatcher DDI andlights the first lamp in the particular row of lamps associated with thetransmitter TI A different numeral is behind each lamp and the districtdispatcher thereby is informed when lamp number I' is lighted that thereis a taxi-cab available at the taxi-cab stand T-I. This action alsomoves the needle of the meter MI at the chief dispatchers position Iover one point, to show one cab is available. An-

other cab driver at-the stand TI inserts his key in the next key holeand transmits another impulse over the line to the district dispatcherDD- I. This action wipes out the first lamp lit; and illuminates thesecond lamp, indicating there are two cabs'available. Any number 'ofother cabdrivers'arriving at the cab-stand T--I, will insert keys in thevacant holes to transmit single impulses to the district dispatcher andlight the next lamps in. succession. Only one. lamp at a.,

time is lighted and this indicates the total number of cabs in thecab-stand, the addition of one cab to the previous number at the standalways wiping out the previous illuminated lamp and setting up a newnumber.

I At this time, should the district dispatcher DD-V-I receive a call foca a cab-driver have a ickup, the communicate with each other over theregular telephone system which is used in conjunction with thissignaling system. The district dispatcher thereupon informs the taxi-cabdriver to be prepared to remove his key from the key sender in thetransmitter T-I.- The dispatcher thereupon operates a releasekey at herposition associated with this particular cab stand T-I and allows thedriver vto remove his key from the transmitter. This action transmits asingle impulse over the line to the district dispatchers position whichextinguishes one lamp in the row and illuminates the next preceding lampto indicate to the district dispatcher that a cab has'been given anorder understood that there may be any number of theae'districtdispatchers scattered throughout a i l cm a patron or- 2,ooe,9o9

large district or a city. Similarly, there may be any number of taxi-cabstands connected-to a particular district dispatcher, the number beingonly limited to that which can be conveniently taken care of by thatparticular district dispatcher. I

A detailed description will now be given of the apparatus and equipmentinvolved in the invention in connection with a single taxi-cab stand animpulse of current over the conductor I, ex-

tending to the district 'dispatchers position and operates the addingrelay 5. This repeats the impulse to. the first one of a pair or set often chain counting relays to'control the firstlam I. There are tenlamps, numbered I to ID, incl ve, associated with the transmitter T--I.These lamps are controlled by the associated pair of counting relays.The key K associated with the transmitter T-I is operated by tliedispatcher when he has transmitted an order' to the cab driver over thetelephoneline to pick up a fare. Operating this key operates a magnet inthe transmitter T'-I=so that the driver can withdraw his key which sendsout another impulse to the last operated set of counting relays toextinguish the lamp and light the preceding one.

The key, after having once been inserted, is prevented from beingwithdrawn by the driver only until the dispatcher has given him an orderand operated the key K. The operation of one set of counting relays alsoinserts a resistance, It for example, in a conductor extending to themeter M-I which is in front of the chief dispatcher. This gives thechief dispatcher a reading of the meter to showthat one cab has beenadded to the cab-stand or withdrawn.

In the detailed description of the operation of the system a cab driver,upon arriving at his cabstand, will approach the telephone pole uponwhich the box containing the telephone instruments and the transmitterT-I is placed. He will insert his key which is an ordinary flat type keyin the key holeor key sender Illand turn it completely around. Thecourse taken by'the key-in its movement in the key hole is indicated inthe drawings by a circular dotted line." At the first part of the turnhe will turn the key under the trigger II2 which is normally tensionedby the spring I" In its normal position. Fhrther movement of the keypushes up the L-shaped bracket I I I, upon which the trigger I I2 ispivoted, in an upward direction, compressing the tension spring I09which is fixed on one end of this bracket. A pin I25 on the bracketIIIis thereby inserted between two of a row of balls I III; This pinis-forced between two of these balls so that those to the left of thepin I25 will operate the slide III] in the left-hand direction-until aprojection on it engages the stop I08 'and near the end of the movementthe slide I01 operates the balls III! takesplace onthe right-hand sideof the pin I25, but there is nocontact on this side, the movement beingtaken up by a coil spring.

contact springs I06. 'A similar movement of the Further movement of thekey engages the trigger on the pivoted lever I I5 which is also underspring tension. The key then engages and moves the lever II 5 until itpasses the trigger point, whereupon the L-shaped bracket III undercontrol of tension spring I09 restores to normal position and allows thepin I25 to become disengaged from the row of balls I I0 which thereuponassume their normal position in contact with one another. The slide I01thereby moves to the right until its left-hand side engages the stopI00, thereby opening the contact springs I05. The key is turned furtheruntil itreaches the stop IIS on the release bracket I04, in whichposition it remains and it cannot be withdrawn by the driver on accountof the trigger on the lever I I5.

The key remains locked in this position and it will be noted that thecontacts I06. have been opened and closed once, thereby transmitting animpulse of current from ground over the conductor I which extends to thedistrict dispatcher's oflice DD-I and lights up the firstor thenextlamp, depending upon how many other keys have been placed in the keyhole and to inform the district dispatcher that a driver is waiting fororders, When another cab driver afterwards inserts his key in the nextkey hole, III! for example, the trigger mechanism and the operation ofthe impulse springs by balls IIO takes place in a similar manner as whenthe first driver placed his key in the key hole II8. In case, however,

the driver placed his key in the key hole I I8 and fl to be insertedbetween them, and no two pins can therefore be inserted between theballs at exactly the same time; otherwise there will be a falsetransmission of impulses. When a number of other keys have been placedin key holes I20, I2I, I22, and I23, or the maximum (which is ten) areinserted, the impulse springs I05 will have been operated in accordancewith the number of keys inserted, one impulse being transmitted for eachkey. Accordingly, a particular lamp in the row before the chiefdispatcher will be illuminated informing her exactly how many keys havebeen inserted in the transmitter T--I, so that she will know how manytaxi-cabs are available.

After a number of keys have been inserted in the transmitter and thedistrict dispatcher receives an order for a taxi-cab or a driver has apickup, the district dispatcher will call the driver, or the driver willcall the district dispatcher, over the regular telephone system andrequest a release. The dispatcher thereupon operates the key Kassoclated with the transmitter T-l and the driver will be ready toremove his key from thekey hole H8. The operation of the key K transmitscurrent over conductor 2 to the transmitter T-I and energizes therelease magnet I02. This release magnet has an armature I03 inengagement with the release bar I04 which is under tension of the springI05. The operation of the release magnet I02 moves the bar I04 in arighthand direction, thereby moving all of the key stops IIS associatedwith each key hole to the right. This stop I I5 bears against the leversH5 in every key hole and moves them slightly to the right. Thisdisengages the trigger on the lever I I5 from the path of the key andallows the driver to move the key in a counter-clockwise direction sothat it engages the lower portion of the L-shaped bracket III and movesit again in an upward direction against the tension of the spring I00,thereby forcing the pin I25 between two of the balls H0 and moving theslide I01 to the left to operate the springs I05 as before. As the leverH5 is moved to the right by stop II8 of the release bar I04, the upperend of this lever which is an L-shaped portion H3 is moved directly ontop of a similar part II4 on the trigger I I2, so that the projectionII3 will be resting upon projection II4. As the key is further turnedand the bracket III moved upward, the trigger II2 moves upward with itand, due to engagement of the parts H3 and II 4, the trigger II2 will beturned about its pivot on the bracket I II to move its trigger pointupward and allow the key to be further moved in a counter-clockwisedirection until it engages its opening, whereupon it may be withdrawn.

The foregoing action, it is seen, also transmits an impulse of currentover conductor I in a similar manner as when the driver has inserted hiskey. Similarly, should another driver attempt to remove his key from thekey hole H9, for example, at the same time that the first driver isremoving his key, he will be prevented from doing so by the action ofthe pin I25 which has moved the balls and allows only one pin at a timeto be inserted between them. These balls will be separated only adistance corresponding 'to the diameter of the pin I25 and the insertionof another pin will be prevented due to the limited movement of themovable slide I01 which is limited by the fixed stop I08. After a driverhas withdrawn his key the dispatcher restores the key K, therebyinterrupting the current to the release magnet I02 which thereuponrestores its arma-.

ture and allows the spring I05 to move the release bar I04 in theleft-hand direction, and thereby restore all the levers I I5 of all ofthe key holes to their normal positions under tension of their retainingsprings. When the lever II5 has been returned to its normal position bythe restoring action of the release bar I04, it disengages itsprojection II3 from the projection H4 and allows the trigger II2 to berestored to its normal position on the L-shaped portion of the bracketIII under tension of the spring Hi. It will be understood that the rowof balls H0 and the movable stop I01 are all arranged to be held in asuitable retaining trough so that they will always be in alignment, andthe release bar will also be arranged so that it moves in a certaindirection only. This whole mechanism is merely shown in this manner sothat it will be easily understood and is only diagrammaticallyillustrated.

The foregoing briefly describes the operation of the transmitter TI whena cab driver inserts and withdraws his key. As a key is inserted andturned in the key hole I I8, it will be remembered, an impulse ofcurrent was transmitted from ground over the contacts I06, conductor I,nor-' mally closed contacts IQ of the key K through the winding of theadd relay 5' to battery. As the key in the key hole I I8 is movedfurther, springs I06 are again opened. Accordingly, relay 5 energizesand deenergiezs once. At the front conthe lamp I, front contact andarmature I2 and then in series through all the back contacts andarmatures on each of the sets of relays, to ground on armature IOI. Theillumination of lamp I informs the dispatcher that there is one cabwaiting for orders at the cab-stand TI.

As soon as the contacts I06 of the transmitter TI are opened, the relay5 deenergizes and removes ground from conductor 28 by opening itsarmature 3. circuit for relay I extending from battery through thewinding of relay I0, armature II and its front contact, through thewinding of relay I to ground. Relays I0 and I5 are therefore energizedin series with each other, when the ground is removed from conductor 28.

At front contact and armature I3 relay I0 inserts the resistance I4across the conductors I30 and I3| extending from both poles of battery Bto thetotalizing meter M--I situated at the chief dispatchers positionCD. The needle of the meter is moved to indicate to the chief dispatcherthat one cab is available at the district dispatchers position DDI, Atthe back contact of armature I6. relay I5 disconnects the originalenergizing circuit of relay I0 and transfers the circuit of conductor 28to the armature 26 of relay 25 which controls the lamp 2. At frontcontact and armature II relay I5 prepares a circuit for deenergizingrelay I0 for a purpose which will be later on explained.

Summarizing the above, it will be seen that there is a key in the keyhole H8 and relays I0 and I5 are energized in series, while the lamp Iis illuminated, indicating to the district dispatcher that there is onecab available. If another cab arrives at the taxi-cab stand TI, thedriver inserts his key in the next key hole II9. This operates themechanism in the transmitter, as has been described, to open and closethe contact springs I06. This action transmits another grounded impulseover conductor I, extending through contacts I9 of the key K, throughthe winding of adding relay 5 to battery. Relay 5, upon energizing,transmits a grounded impulse from its front contact and armature 3, overconductor 28, armature I6 and its front contact,

armature 26 and its back contact, through the winding of relay 20 tobattery. Relay 20 attracts its armatures H, 22, and 23, and when theimpulse is removed from contacts I06 and relay 5 is deenergized, relay20 remains locked' up over its front contact and, armature 2| in serieswith relay 25. 'At the back contact of armature 22 relay 20 disconnectsthe chain circujt for the lamp I and transfers it over to the lamp 2,thereby extinguishing lamp I and illuminating lamp 2, from the ground onarmature IOI. ance 24 is introduced across the conductors I30 and I3I,in addition to resistance I4, so that the needle on the meter M-I at thechief dispatchers station CD will indicate two taxi-cabs available. Atthe back contact of armature 21 relay 25, disconnects the prepareddeenergizing circuit for relay I0 which will be later on explained. Atthe back contact of armature 26 the original energizing circuit of relay20 is opened and the con ductor 28 is transferred to the next relay setwhich controls the lamp #3. Relays 20 and 25 are now held energized inseries with each other, as are relays I0 and I5.

From the foregoing, it w ll be seen that when the second cab driverinserts his key in the second key hole or any other key hole on thetrans- This action completes a looking .it transmitted over conductor 28At front contact and armature 2'3 resist- 5 mitter TI, the second lamp#2 is lighted while lamp #I goes out, so that there will be no two lampslit up at the same time. The third and fourth drivers arriving at thetaxi-cab stand TI insert their keys one after the other in key holes I20and HI and operate the relay sets associated with lamps 3 and 4,illuminating these lamps in turn and extinguishing those previously lit.When the fifth taxi-cab driver inserts his key in the key hole I22, animpulse of current in series through all the armatures I6, 26, andsimilar armatures associated with the relay sets of lamps 3 and 4,through armature 56 and its back contact, through the winding of relay50 to battery. Relay 50 energizes and locks up in series with relay 55after the impulse is removed from conductor 28. At the front contact ofarmature 5 2 the lamp 5 is illuminated and the previous lamp 4 isdisconnected at the back contact. At' front contact and armature 53resistance 54 is included across the conductors I30 and I3I so thatthere will now be five similar resistances including I4 and 24 acrossthese conductors. Accordingly, the needle of the meter is pointingopposite the.fifth number, indicating five available taxi-cabs at thedistrict dispatcher DDI. At front contact and armature 56 the circuitfor conductor 28 is transferred to armature 66 by relay 55.

When another taxi-cab driver inserts his key in the key hole I23, theimpulse of current caused thereby is transmitted over conductor 28through armature and back contact, 66 through the winding of relay 60 tobattery. Relay 60 energizes and locks up in series with relay 65 overits contact 6I. At the front contact of armature 62 the circuit for thelamp 5 is disconnected and the circuit connected to lamp 6, so that lamp6 will be lit and lamp 5will go out. At front.

contact of armature 63 the resistance 64 is introduced across theconductors I30 and I3I so that there are now six resistances connectedhave been extinguished and this indicates to the district dispatcherthat there are'six taxi-cabs waiting for orders. Likewise, relays I0 andI5, 20 and 25, the relays associated with lamps 3 and 4, relays and 55,and 60 and 65 are all energized in series with each other. At this timeshould the district dispatcher DDI receive an order for a cab, shetransmits this order over her private telephone system to the cab-standTI and the telephone thereat. One of the cab drivers waiting receivesthe call and she instructs It may also I him where to pick up thepassenger. happen that the cab driver receives a request for a cab fromwaiting patrons. He then calls the district dispatcher over the regulartelephone system and requests a release. In either case, after havingbeen in communication with the district dispatcher, she operates thepush button associated with the key K, thereby closing contacts I3,opening contacts I9, and closing contacts 9. The driver has his hand onthe key, the

one for example in the key hole I I8, and pre-' the tension of spring I"and in the right-hand direction. The stop III moves the lever H5 andallows the release of the key from the keyhole IIO, as has beenpreviously explained. In addition to this the bracket III ismoved in anupward direction against the tension of the spring I so that the pin I25may be inserted between two of the balls IIO. Accordingly, the contactsIII are closed and opened again when the key s removed and the bracket III restored. This action transmits an impulse of current extending fromground through the closed contacts I00 over conductor I, through theoperated contacts I0 of the key K, through the winding of thesubtracting relay to battery. Relay 0, upon energizing, closes its frontcontacts on its armature 'I and completes a circuit extending frombattery, armature 'I, conductor 29, operated armature I1 and its frontcontact, armature 21 and its front contact, and in series throughsimilar armatures on relays associated with lamps l and 4, armature 5!and its front contact, armatui'e G'I'and its front, contact, armature TIand its back contact, and through the winding of the relay 05 to ground.Relay 65, being already energized in series with relay 60, will not beaffected. However, battery extends to the front contact of closedarmature GI so that relay .00 will be short circuited, and it willtherefore tact of armature 03 resistance 64 is removed from across'theconductors I30 and Ill, so that the meter M-I will now read 5 instead of0.

Subtract relay 0 has been only momentarily energized and immediatelydeenergized due to the opening and closing of the contact I00. Thebattery from the front contact of armature I is shortly afterwardsremoved from conductor 29 when relay 8 deenergizes. Accordingly, thecircuit for relay 65 is interrupted, extending over armatures 51, 01,and TI, and relay 55 deenergizes and restores its armatures 60 and 61.At the back contact of armature. 66 the original energizing circuit forrelay 00 is prepared, at the back contact of armature 51 the subtractcircuit for relays 50 and 55 is prepared.

When the district dispatcher notices the extinguishing of the lamp 6 andthe illumination,

of lamp 5 she will know that thedriver has removed his key from the keyhole H8 and she thereupon restores the key K to normal. This opens thecontacts I8 and restores the contacts I9 to their original normalposition and at the contact 0 removes the battery extending overconductor 2 to the release magnet I02, so that this magnet restoresarmature I03, thereby allowing the release bar I04 to-be restored to itsnormal position, under tension of the spring I05. The

movement of the. bar I04 moves the stop IIS to the left, therebyreleasing the lever I I5 so that its trigger arm will then be inposition to be operated by another key. The other drivers then removetheir keys one after the other in order, under control of the key K ofthe district dispatcher until only one key remains. When the districtdispatcher calls the cab-stand T-I again and requests the remainingdriver to take an order for a cab, lamp I is the only one illuminated atthis time. She operates the key K so that the release magnet I02. isagain energized from contact 0. This moves the release bar I04 to theright-hand direction so that the stop I I0 disengages its trigger arm onthe lever II5 so that the key can be rotated in a. counter-clockwisedirection to in a clockwise direction and finally withdrawn.

This action transmits another impulse of current from the contact I08over conductor I, through the operated contacts I8, through the windingof subtract relay 6 to battery. At the front contact of armature 'Irelay 6 puts battery on conductor 29 througharmature I1 and its frontcontact, armature 21 and its back contact, winding of relay I5 toground. A branch of this circuit extends as before through the frontcontact of armature II to one side of the winding of relay I0, therebyshort circuiting this relay. Relay I0 releases its armatures and at thefront contact and armature I2 interrupts the circuit to the lamp I,thereby extinguishing it. There are no lamps lit now and there are nokeys in position in the key holes in the transmitter TI. At armature I 3resistance I4 is removed from across conductors I30 and I3I, allowingthe needle on themeter M-I to restore to its normal or zero position. Atarmature II relay I0 opens the short circuit on itself. When the key hasbeen withdrawn by the driver and the contacts I06 opened, relay 6restores and opens its armature and contact 'I, removing the batteryfrom the conductor 29 so that relay I5 will deenergize. At armature lIit opens a further point in its circuit and at the back contact ofarmature I0 it again prepares a circuit for energizing relay I0 overconductor 28. The district dispatcher noting the extinguishment of thelamp I releases her key K, thereby restoring contacts I8 and I9 to theirnormal position and also removing the bat-.

tery to contact 9 from the release magnet I02 so that it can restore itsarmature and allow the lever I I5 and all the other levers to assumetheir normal position.

From the foregoing operation, it will be seen that any number of keysmay be inserted in the transmitter TI and a single lamp will be alwayslit corresponding to the total number of keys in the key holes. Eachtime that a key is with-'- drawn the'highest numbered lamp will beextinguished and the next lowest numbered lamp will be illuminated onany one of the lamps from I to I0 so that at all times there will be adirect read-g ing before the district dispatcher 0f the number of keysin the key holes, which indicates the number of cabs awaiting orders,and these cabs can only be released by the operation of the key K by thedistrict dispatcher. Each time a cab is added to the stand a-key isinserted in a key hole and an impulse is sent over conductor 20 to addup and light the next preceding lamp, while each time a key is removedand the cab driver sent out on an order, an impulse is transmitted overM-I are multipled to other sets of relays similar to that describedwhich are associated with other rows of lamps similar to those shown, so

that the total number of cabs in a particular dis- 'trict under controlof the district dispatcher will always be indicated on the meter beforethe chief dispatcher. 7

It will be appreciated that the nnumber of key holes that are in thetransmitter T-i are not limited to the number illustrated, which is ten.They may be expanded to any number and, likewise, the lamps to It) maybe increased to any number desired, or there may be fewer than thatshown, depending upon the requirements of each cab-stand and the amount,of taxi-cabs that a district dispatcher can conveniently control.

It will be understood that the lamps i to Ill will all be arranged in ahorizontal row in positions visible to the district dispatcher andpreferably a plate of glass will be placed in front of the lamps withthe numerals opposite each lamp so that when the lamp is lighted thenumeral will be visible. Instead of extinguishing a lamp when acab iswithdrawn from the cab-stand T-i and illuminating a lower numbered lamp,it may be desired to keep all lamps lighted orv the number according tothe total number of cabs in the cabstand. In other words, if there arefour cabs, there will be four lamps lit and each time a cab .is releasedthere will be one less lamp lit. This would only be in case there wouldnot be any numbers opposite each lamp, so that the operator would beable to tell at a glance how many cabs are available by counting thelamps. This feature can beapplied to the sets of relays by merelyremoving the back contacts of the contacts controlling each lamp in therow so the lamp will not be operated over a series chain circuit, butwill be controlled by an independent circuit.

This system, likewise, is not intended to be limited to the control oftaxi-cabs in a large city, but may be utilized to operate in connectionwith a watchman's supervisory system or a police registration system orany other similar system.

What is claimed is:

1. In a signaling system, a circuit, a dispatchers position, an outlyingsignaling station connected to said dispatchers position over saidcircuit, a sending transmitter at said signaling station having signaltransmitting means for transmitting like impulses of current over saidcircuit, a plurality of signals at said dispatchersposition, means forin one instance operating said signals responsive to the operation ofsaid trans-.

mitting means and the consequent transmission of said current impulsesover said circuit, and means for in another instance releasing saidsignals responsive to the operation of said transmitting means and theconsequent transmission of current impulses over said circuit, and meansfor determining which said means will operate said signals.

2. In a signaling system, a circuit, a dispatchers position, an outlyingsignaling station connected to said dispatchers position over saidcircuit, a signal transmitter at said signaling station having means fortransmitting current over u said circuit, a plurality of keys, means forpermitting the turning of said keys and for locking them in saidtransmitter to actuate said signal transmitting means, a plurality ofsignals at said dispatchers position, means for operating said .signalsin consecutive order responsive to the turning and locking of a key insaid transmitting means, a dispatchers key at said circuit controllingposition, means for releasing said signals, and means operated by saiddispatchers key for unlocking said first keys to permit them to beturned to again operate said transmitting means to in aooasoo f v turnoperate said release means to release said signals in consecutive order.

3; In a signaling system, a dispatchers position, a circuit, an outlyingsignaling station connected to said position over said circuit, a signaltransmitter at said signaling station having means for transmittingcurrent over said circuit, a plurality of keys, means for permitting theturning 01' said keys in said transmitter to actuate-said signaltransmitting means, means for locking an inserted key in saidtransmitting means, a pluralityof signals at said dispatchers position,means for operating said signals in consecutive order responsive to theoperation and locking of said keys in said transmitting means,

a circuit controlling key at said dispatchers position, said circuitcontrolling key controlling meansto effect the unlocking and permit theturning of the first keys in said transmitting means, means. forreleasing said signals, said signal releasing means also controlled bysaid circuit controlling key and operated by the unlocking and turningof said firstkeys in said transmitting means for releasing said signalsin consecutive order.

4. In ,a signaling system; a dispatchers position, a circuit, anoutlying signaling station connected to said dispatchers position oversaid circuit, a signal transmitter at said signaling station having asignal transmitting means for transmitting current over said circuit, aplurality of keys, means for permitting said keys to be turned and forlocking them in said transmitting means, a plurality of signals at saiddispatchers position,'said transmitting means'transmitting an impulse ofcurrent over said circuit connection responsive to the turning andlocking of a key therein, means responsive to said current impulse foroperating one of said signals, said transmitting means transmittinganother impulse of current responsive to the turning and locking ofanother key in said transmitting means to operate said signal operatingmeans to in turn operate the next succeeding signal, means controlled atsaid dispatchers position for permitting the unlocking and turning ofany one oi said keys in said transmitting means, the unlocking andturning of a key operating said transmitting means to transmit a furtherimpulse oi current over said circuit, and signal releasing meansresponsive to said last impulse of current to efiect the release of saidlast operated signal and reoperate said first signal. a

5. In a signaling system, a circuit, a dispatch; ers position, atransmitting station connected to said dispatchers position over saidcircuit, transmitting means at said transmitting station fortransmitting current over saidcircuit, a plurality of signals at saiddispatchers position, a pair of relays at said position, one havingmeans for operating and the other having means for releasing saidsignals, a plurality of keys, the turning of a key in said transmittingmeans eil'ective to transmit current over said circuit to energize one.or said relays to in turn controlling its means operate one of saidsignals, the tumingof another key in said transmitting means efiectiveto again energize said one relay to again control its means operate thenext succeeding signal, a circuit controlling key at said dispatcher sposition, the operation oi. said circuit controlling key and the turningand removal of one of said inserted keys to again operate saidtransmitting means efiective to transmit current oversaid circuit toenergize the other of said pair of dispatchers station for connectingsaid outlying station over the circuit to either oi said control relays,means controlled at said signaling station for connecting a source ofcurrent to said circuit for operating one of said control relays, meansresponsive to the operation of said one control relay to control saidcounting relays consecutively and operate said signals in a definiteorder, and means for operating the other of said control relays fromsaid signaling station, and means responsive to the operation of saidother control relay for deenergizing said sets of counting relays inconsecutive order and releasing said signals in consecutive order.

7. In a signaling system, a dispatchers position, an outlying station, acircuit connecting the two, a single circuit closer at the station, aplurality of control means toroperating the circuit closer, a pluralityof signals at the position controlled over the circuit, certain of thecontrol means operated at difierent times toin each case operate thecircuit closer to transmit a current impulse over the circuit, relaymeans responsive to one impulse to operate one of said signals, releaserelay means, and means at the dispatch ers station responsive to anotherimpulse for operating said release relay means to release the operatedsignal and operate another of said signals.

8. In va signaling system; a dispatchers posi tion, an outlying station,a circuit connecting the two, a single circuit closer at the station, aplurality of control means each having means for operating thecircuitcloser, a plurality of signals at the position, corresponding innumberto the said plurality of control means, certain of said control meansoperate at various times to actuate said circuit closer to in turntransmit impulses of current over said circuit, relay means responsiveto one impulse for ope"- ating one of said signals, release means, and

means at the position includinga key, responsive' to another impulse foroperating said release means to release the operated signal and operateanother signal to indicate the operation oi both or said control means.

9. In a signaling system, a dispatchers posi tion, a plurality 0!indicating signals at said position arranged in consecutive order,relays for operating said signals, a pair of controlcircuits extendingto said relays, a relay having means for controlling one or saidcircuits, another relay having means for controlling theother contr'olcircuit, an outlying station, a circuit conn'ecting said'station to'thedispatcher's station, a dispatchers key for controlling the connectionof said control relays to the last circuit, means at, theoutlying'station for operating said control relays over said lastcircuit, under control of said key, to in turn control certain of saidsignal operating relays over said control circuits to operate andrelease said signals consecutively,

10. In a signaling system, a dispatchers position, a plurality ofsignals at said position arranged in consecutive order, relays forcontrolling said signals, a pair of circuits over which said relays arecontrolled, a first control relay having means for controlling one ofsaid circuit, a second control relay having means for controlling theother 01' said circuits, an outlying station having a signal circuitconnected to the dispatchers position, a dispatchers key controlling theconnection of said signal circuit to said control relays; means at thestation for repeatedly operating said first control relay over thesignal circuit to in turn control the associated control circuit tooperate said first relays to thereby operate the signals consecutivelyand disconnect each previously operated signal, said means at thestation operative, after the dispatchers key has been operated, forrepeatedly operating said second control relay over the signal circuitto restore the first relays consecutively over the other control circuitand thereby release the signals in a similar manner so that one signalwill always be operated at a time.

11. In a. signaling system, a series of indicating devices, relays forcontrolling said devices, a pair of conductors over which said relaysare controlled, a first control relay having means for controlling oneconductor, a second control relay having means for controlling the otherconductor, means for transmitting impulses. to said first control relay,said first control relay operated responsive to said impulses toprogressively energize said relays over one of said conductors and lockthem energized, said relays, having means for operating'said signalsconsecutively and disconnecting the previously operated signal when thusprogressively energized, means for transmitting impulses to the saidsecond control relay, to in turn progressively deenergize said relaysover the other of said conductors to disconnect the operated signalanddisconnect the preceding signal. i

12 In a signaling system, a plurality of indicating devices, a pair ofrelays for controlling each device, a pluralityzof sets 01' contactscontrolled by each relay, a pair 01' conductors conassociated indicating'device and releasing the previously operated device, means fortransmitting impulses to the other of said control relays to operate itto progressively release said pairs of relays over the other of saidconductors, and circuit connections controlled by the contacts of eachpair of relays for releasing the associated indicating devices andoperating the preceding indicating device.

HARRY E. HERSHEY.

contacts of each pair of relays for operating the

